“That was some swim, young man.”
I open my eyes and find Mary, Philip’s wife, leaning over me.
My muscles twitch from overexertion.
“I was working through a few things,” I say, my breath coming in pants.
“I’d say,” she tuts, making me smile. “You know a good conversation works wonders and is far less taxing on the body too.”
I harrumph, although it comes out more as a huff.
My chest rises and falls rapidly.
I feel a hand on my wrist and realise she’s taking my pulse.
I sit up.
“I’m okay, honestly,” I say. “I swim over one hundred laps a day.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“Physically, maybe, but I’ve just watched someone abuse their body to almost breaking point, so I’d say mentally, young man. You’re screwed.”
“Is that your medical opinion?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Nope, it’s one of a seventy-seven-year-old woman. Someone who has lived a lot and seen even more.”
Philip appears to be carrying a bottle of water, which he hands to me.
“Here you go, drink that.”
“Thanks,” I say, taking a deep swig. My hand and arm shake, although not as much as I feared.
“Did you and your lady have a falling out?”
“Mary!” Philip says. “Mind your own business.”
I bite my lip to stop myself from laughing.
She turns on her husband. “Poppycock. If someone hadn’t spoken to me all those years ago. You and I would never have happened.”
She pauses, then turns back, staring me down.
“I’m paying it forward,” she says.
“Paying what forward?”
“The advice I was given.”
Her hand snakes out and grasps Philip’s, entwining their fingers.
Philip shoots me an apologetic look, but stays quiet.
Mary smiles, taking my silence as my willingness to listen.
“You only get one chance in this life, and sometimes you have to take the bull by the horns. Nothing worth its salt comes easy. Things worth fighting for require effort and steelydetermination. Only you can decide if she’s worth it. But looking at what you just put your body through, that level of emotion means something and shouldn’t be ignored.”
“If only it were that simple,” I say, brushing my hair off my face.
